The '32 is Home!

The 1932 5W Coupe at home with the "original barn dirt"! LOL

 

It was cool to get the '32 Coupe home and take some pictures with that "valuable" 65 year old "barn dirt" still on the car! 

As mentioned in a previous post, except for the wheels, the car was pretty much identical to the configuration that it was in from those vintage 1954 pictures that were shared in the last post.

I'm guessing that it was hot rodded before my dad's buddy even purchased it.

When it came home, I called my friend, Craig Naff to look at the car. He was the first person I called before I purchased it. He was definitely the most knowledgeable person that I knew who could give me some advice. I'm a 1960s kind of car guy, so this '32 stuff was all new to me. I've learned a lot and am having lots of fun learning more every day.

Craig agreed to do the build. We first met about 40 years ago, and I have never had him do an entire project like this...only the body and paint on a 1966 GT350 back in the early 1980s. I'm excited to get it in his shop. He's got lots of cool ideas and crazy talent to make them happen.

My other friend, Jeremy, from Maple Hill Restoration will handle the paint and detail work. 

A few folks have said "just clean it up and get it going"...well, it's a bit too far gone for that. Generally the plans call for a "traditional" build putting the car in the late 1940s, maybe early 1950s time period. I'm going to try and stay true to how my dad's buddy would have built the car had he finished it. Oh, and it will definitely have a flathead. More on that soon.

I'm also asked whether it will be chopped or not...that is a definite "YES"! 

Check out the next post, where it gets torn apart! I'll share lots more plans in a later post When it gets in Craig's shop, maybe later this year, we will really have a lot to share.

1932 Ford 5W Coupe

1932 Ford 5W Coupe

Lights added to the '32 sometime before 1954.

1932 Coupe rear rumble seat area

Rear spreader bar for rear mount spare tire cover

Interesting rear tires

1932 Ford 5W Coupe

"Hot Rod Red" interior

Feeble attempt at filling the cowl

Guide Headlight Assemblies

1932 Ford 5W Coupe

Cool aftermarket heater

Cool aftermarket heater

Cool aftermarket heater

Cool aftermarket heater

Vintage Pictures from 1954

Original picture of the 1932 Ford 5W Coupe from 1954

I absolutely love old pictures of cars that were taken "back in the day." You could imagine my surprise when these pictures where found after I purchased the '32 coupe.

These show the car with 1954 Virginia license plates, so I assume that they were taken shortly after my dad's buddy purchased the car. Studying the pictures, the car is in virtually the identical configuration as it was when we pulled it out of the barn...65 years later.

It is interesting to note that the car was originally a "Model B" meaning it was originally equipped with a 4 cylinder engine. That was determined by the VIN. You will note in the pictures from 1954, it has a Flathead V8 engine. It appears that my dad's friend purchased it this way. In other words, it had already been "hot rodded." The color was changed from the original Washington Blue to a blue/gray color, the interior was reupholstered in red, Guide headlights were added, the grill shell was filled, the cowl was filled, a heater was added, a radio antenna was installed, Chevy taillights were added, different bumpers (not 100% sure from what) were installed, etc.

It's crazy to think that it was still in this same configuration 65 years later. The 1954 license plates were even still on the bumpers!

Original picture of the 1932 Ford 5W Coupe from 1954

Original picture of the 1932 Ford 5W Coupe from 1954

Original picture of the 1932 Ford 5W Coupe from 1954

Original picture of the 1932 Ford 5W Coupe from 1954

Original picture of the 1932 Ford 5W Coupe from 1954

Original picture of the 1932 Ford 5W Coupe from 1954

 

Barn Find

Our 1932 Ford 5 Window Coupe as found in the barn. Stored since 1955.

 

Barn Find...in my opinion, one of the most overused and maybe misused phrase in our old car hobby. It's certainly a popular one though!

Well, our '32 5 window Ford Coupe was definitely just that. It had remained stored in a barn for around 65 years before we pulled it out. The barn was even at a rather remote location with no easily accessible roads. There was a walk-in door, but we had to remove a few large metal panels in order to get the car out!

It was super interesting to see original inspection sticker from both Virginia and West Virginia dated 1954-55 and 1953.

The day that we pulled it out was an absolute blast! Due to its private location, just a handful of folks were invited to help. They included noted hot rod historian and automotive journalist, Ken Gross along with Tom Cotter of Hagerty's "Barn Find Hunter" video fame. In fact, we have some video that we plan putting together one day.

My son definitely missed school that day, and it's a memory that we will never forget.

Enjoy the pictures!

Our 1932 Ford 5 Window Coupe as found in the barn. Stored since 1955.

Our 1932 Ford 5 Window Coupe as found in the barn. Stored since 1955.

The barn had no garage door. We had to remove a few metal panels in order to get the car out.

The '32 Ford sees the light of day for the first time in 65 years.

The '32 Ford sees the light of day for the first time in 65 years.

The '32 Ford sees the light of day for the first time in 65 years.

The '32 Ford sees the light of day for the first time in 65 years.

Ken Gross points out some of the details.

What a fun day!! 

We have some video footage that we will post here when we get it edited.

Ready to head home.

West Virginia inspection sticker from 1953.

Virginia inspection sticker from 1954-55.

A Little History....

1932 Ford 5W Coupe fresh out of the barn where it resided for 65 years.

So, I love cars that tell a story...and this '32 5W tells a good one.

First though, I will just mention that as a young kid, my dad didn't own many cars earlier than those from the late fifties and definitely none form the 1930s. So, why the heck would I want a 1932 Ford?

For one thing, I think (and many others probably will agree) that the '32 Ford is just an iconic American car. I won't go into the reasons. If you are still reading, you probably already know.

If I already wasn't a big enough car geek, something cool happening when I was at the impressionable age of eleven. My dad took me to the movie theater, and we saw a movie named American Graffiti. Who didn't think that Milner's "piss yellow" 5 window just wasn't the coolest thing ever?

Somewhere around that time, my dad mentions that his old high school buddy had purchased a '32 coupe back in the early fifties, and it was till stored in a barn not too far from us. I cannot tell you how many times over the years I asked my dad to ask his buddy if he would sell that car! I never saw the car, but I never forgot it either.

Fast forward way ahead to just a few years ago. My dad passed away, and I talked to his buddy, the '32 owner, at the funeral. It's crazy, but I even remember asking about the car...he said that he still had it. A few short months later, he too passed away unexpectedly.

Over a year went by, and someone casually mentioned that the '32 had been sold. I was disappointed but moved on. A few months later, I see a Facebook Marketplace ad for a '32 Ford 5W Coupe...not something that I normally see of FB, especially close by.

It did not even ring a bell, until I was on the phone with the stepson of my dad's friend who was selling the car. We both connected the dots real quickly. It was the same car that I had been told about all of those years!

So...now the journey begins. Be sure to subscribe on the top right of this page, so you get the latest posts. I've got a bunch more to tell and an absolute ton of pictures to share. The engine is ready to go, and the "build" will start soon!

I'll also add that this Blog was originally created to document the Coupe. Well, I guess I got the Hot Rod Fever, because there is a '32 Roadster now, and I'll be sharing pictures and information about that one as well!!